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Case Reports
. 2022 Jul 14:80:104149.
doi: 10.1016/j.amsu.2022.104149. eCollection 2022 Aug.

Acute respiratory failure on varicella pneumonia in Indonesian adult with chronic hepatitis B: A case report and review article

Yuly Rahmawati  1 , Daniel Maranatha  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Acute respiratory failure on varicella pneumonia in Indonesian adult with chronic hepatitis B: A case report and review article

Yuly Rahmawati et al. Ann Med Surg (Lond). .

Abstract

Background: Varicella pneumonia is a rare clinical manifestations and potentially lethal complications of varicella in a previously healthy adult.

Case presentation: An Indonesian male, 44 years old, Javanese ethnic, complained of progressive dyspnea two days. He had previously been contacting varicella from his daughter 3-4 days before dyspnea onset. He showed typical symptoms of varicella, such as fever and vesicles all over the body. He had been in good health despite having a chronic hepatitis B infection. Chest X-ray on admission revealed bilateral diffuse consolidation with air-bronchogram. Diagnosis of varicella pneumonia was based on typical varicella cutaneous, clinical and chest X-ray findings. We installed mechanical ventilatory support in the isolation ward and he received acyclovir and symptomatic treatment. Ventilatory support was removed on the 3rd day. He successfully recovered on the third day and uninstalled an endotracheal tube.

Discussion: The early and accurate diagnosis of varicella pneumonia was based on disease course and chest X-ray. Managing varicella pneumonia with acute respiratory failure was mechanical ventilator support (when needed), an antiviral, and other symptomatic treatment.

Conclusion: Varicella pneumonia is a rare and severe complication with a good prognosis if diagnosed and treated promptly.

Keywords: Hepatitis B; Pneumonia; Respiratory support; Varicella.

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Conflict of interest statement

Yuly Rachmawati and Daniel Maranatha declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Skin showed vesicles all over the body during hospital admission.
Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Skin showed vesicles all over the body during hospital admission.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Chest X-ray showed infiltration in all lobes.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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